The Vikings' roster now features seven top-45 picks, six of them first-rounders and all of them 25 or younger, from the last three drafts. There are big-money players on the team, but save for DE Jared Allen, all of them were drafted and developed in Minnesota -- a group that includes RB Adrian Peterson, LB Chad Greenway and DT Kevin Williams. Sixteen draftees from 2011 and '12 make up the guts of the club.
Even better: Now everyone is invested in the organization and its future. Spielman proudly says that six 2013 Viking free agents, including LB Erin Henderson, FB Jerome Felton and OT Phil Loadholt, cancelled visits with other clubs and re-signed because they couldn't imagine not seeing through what's being built.
"Those guys talk amongst themselves," Frazier said. "And in Jerome's case, he's been at other teams, so he knows what those environments are like. Our guys know that we have a unique situation here in Minnesota. And the ones who buy into our philosophy, they know that they're gonna benefit not only now, but long after their careers are over. Every guy that's a part of what we're doing, they're gonna be a better person when they leave our football team. And we're gonna win in doing it."
Thanks for the link. That was a good read. However, I couldn't help coming away from it wondering why Frazier didn't get the vote of confidence of a contract extension after last year. Perhaps it was just a financial decision but it sure sounds like he's instrumental to what they're building.
I didn't realize he played such a crucial role in getting Jared Allen. That was interesting.
Last edited by Mothman on Mon May 06, 2013 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mothman wrote:Thanks for the link. that was an good read. However, I couldn't help coming away from it wondering why Frazier didn't get the vote of confidence of a contract extension after last year. perhaps it was just a financial decision but it sure sounds like he's instrumental to what they're building.
I was a bit surprised by that too. My gut is the Wilfs are/were still burned a bit by the Childress decision coupled (possibly by a lesser degree) by the fact that Spielman didn't select him (even if it appears to be joint effort).
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
dead_poet wrote:
I was a bit surprised by that too. My gut is the Wilfs are/were still burned a bit by the Childress decision coupled (possibly by a lesser degree) by the fact that Spielman didn't select him (even if it appears to be joint effort).
Either that or they just figured, "Hey, we're spending a LOT of money on this new stadium and we don't need to pay our head coach more yet so let's save some money". I think that's possible. The numbers that get tossed around we hear about player salaries and stadium costs are so big that it's easy to lose perspective on the fact that a million bucks is still a million bucks.
good read. hope they are grooming jared allens, chad greenways, and kevin Williams eventual replacements. love how they are building thru the draft and not with these expensive free agents. love to have frazier coach at least a couple more years. too many teams like the raiders get impatient and never develop a solid foundation or team chemistry. too many changes.
dead_poet wrote:
I was a bit surprised by that too. My gut is the Wilfs are/were still burned a bit by the Childress decision coupled (possibly by a lesser degree) by the fact that Spielman didn't select him (even if it appears to be joint effort).
I feel the same way. I expected Frazier to get a contract extension. When that didn't happen, I figured it's because the Wilfs are a little slower to pull the trigger now, thanks to the aftermath of the Chili era. Childress left a lot of ruin behind and it was definitely felt by the ownership.
Mothman wrote:Thanks for the link. That was a good read. However, I couldn't help coming away from it wondering why Frazier didn't get the vote of confidence of a contract extension after last year. Perhaps it was just a financial decision but it sure sounds like he's instrumental to what they're building.
I didn't realize he played such a crucial role in getting Jared Allen. That was interesting.
I for one was happy that they didn't outright extend initially. However, after this offseason and hearing all of the stories about Frazier that occurred during the season, I think he should have been extended. Ultimately, I think (as dead_poet said) the decision not to outright extend him was because the scars from the Childress debacle were still fresh.
A Randy Moss fan for life. A Kevin Williams fan for life.
Spielman proudly says that six 2013 Viking free agents, including LB Erin Henderson, FB Jerome Felton and OT Phil Loadholt, cancelled visits with other clubs and re-signed because they couldn't imagine not seeing through what's being built.
Or more likely because their agents let them know the offer was higher than market. Or that the interest really wasn't there. "Seeing through what's being built". Yeah ok Rick.
Can almost see him patting himself on the back. Two years ago how'd all this do? But nooow dang it we're doing it right and it's working! For one season...
I'm proud of this team for finally building through the draft rather than rely on 40 year old free agents. *Yes that was a gab at Favre* But seriously, championship teams are built through the draft. I think it's easier because a team full of veterans is a team full of egos. At least with the draft the guys they are young, talented, and more willing to listen and learn from the coaches. I think veterans should only be signed to provide leadership and to mold the younger players once the vet steps down.
Demi wrote:
Or more likely because their agents let them know the offer was higher than market. Or that the interest really wasn't there. "Seeing through what's being built". Yeah ok Rick.
Can almost see him patting himself on the back. Two years ago how'd all this do? But nooow dang it we're doing it right and it's working! For one season...
Oh boy the NFL offseason. So zany.
Do you mean to be so entertaining?
If you think this is foolish, what do you feel about Rick saying Ponder was as big as Peterson was for us last year on our road to the playoffs?
JEC334 wrote:I'm proud of this team for finally building through the draft rather than rely on 40 year old free agents. *Yes that was a gab at Favre* But seriously, championship teams are built through the draft. I think it's easier because a team full of veterans is a team full of egos. At least with the draft the guys they are young, talented, and more willing to listen and learn from the coaches. I think veterans should only be signed to provide leadership and to mold the younger players once the vet steps down.
not only this but teams need to have a stable front office and coaching staff. almost feel sorry for the raiders, a relatively new coach and a new qb again.
Mothman wrote:Thanks for the link. That was a good read. However, I couldn't help coming away from it wondering why Frazier didn't get the vote of confidence of a contract extension after last year. Perhaps it was just a financial decision but it sure sounds like he's instrumental to what they're building.
I didn't realize he played such a crucial role in getting Jared Allen. That was interesting.
They may still be gun shy about what they did with Childress.
MelanieMFunk wrote:
Do you mean to be so entertaining?
If you think this is foolish, what do you feel about Rick saying Ponder was as big as Peterson was for us last year on our road to the playoffs?
Considering we would have 0% chance to win any of the last 4 games that got us to the playoffs like the 0% chance Webb gave us IN the playoffs, I think Spielmans right on the money. Start Gerhart all 4 games we still have a chance, throw Webb in, 0-4 finish.
mondry wrote:
Considering we would have 0% chance to win any of the last 4 games that got us to the playoffs like the 0% chance Webb gave us IN the playoffs, I think Spielmans right on the money. Start Gerhart all 4 games we still have a chance, throw Webb in, 0-4 finish.
Omggg. You have GOT to be kidding!
Webb had a better QB rating in his game at Lambeau than Ponder did 5 weeks earlier!
Peterson averaged almost 2 yards more per carry last year than Toby has in his career!
3 of the last 6 games Peterson ran for more yards than Ponder passed for!
5 of the last 6 games Peterson had more rushing yards than Toby's career best. Including 3 games he almost doubled it.
There's a reason Adrian was MVP. And it wasn't because Toby Gerhart and Ponder > AD and Webb.
But was I the only one who found this sentence a bit.....disconcerting?
"And Minnesota wasn't going to pass on him. The Vikings, in fact, even entertained the idea of trading up for Floyd, before Spielman consulted with owner Zygi Wilf and decided to stand pat."
Yeah ok Rick.
